Western PA Local News category, Page 988
Pittsburgh to establish $1M medical debt relief plan
A plan to alleviate medical debt for some Pittsburgh residents received approval Tuesday from City Council. The city will use $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money to contract with a company that will buy dischargeable health care debt from hospitals and forgive the debt of tens of...
Murrysville Rep. Cooper proposes pay suspension for Pa. legislators if they don’t pass budget on time
The longer the Legislature goes without passage of a budget for Pennsylvania, the more likely it is that services which depend on its annual funding appropriations will be disrupted. State Rep. Jill Cooper, R-Murrysville, is of the mind that legislators should be feeling that same disruption. “By law, we’re supposed...
Pittsburgh pilot program will repair damaged, heavily used sidewalks at lower cost
A pilot program approved Tuesday by Pittsburgh City Council will have city crews repair damaged and heavily used sidewalks for residents at a lower cost. Under city law, landowners are responsible for sidewalk maintenance on their properties. The one-year pilot program, introduced in July, will prioritize sidewalks that are heavily...
Unemployment rate in Pittsburgh region dips to new record low
The unemployment rate in the Pittsburgh area inched down to 3.9% during the month of June, a new record low. The drop of two-tenths of a percentage brings the rate to the lowest point since 1976, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry. David...
Fans can view Pee-wee Herman’s bike at Pittsburgh’s Bicycle Heaven museumVideo
With the July 30 death of actor Paul Reubens, also known as Pee-wee Herman, Craig Morrow is expecting an increase of visitors to Bicycle Heaven. The museum and bike shop in Pittsburgh’s North Side is home to one of the the prop bikes used in the 1985 film “Pee-wee’s Big...
Fitness festival returns to New Kensington, pumping up fun and fellowship
Fitness can be fun. That’s the message from a New Kensington business owner promoting a fitness festival for all ages in downtown New Kensington. Cullen Maag, owner of BodyWork412 on Fifth Avenue, is the organizer of the annual NK5K Fitfest. This year, the physically themed event returns from 9 a.m....
Downtown Latrobe gets tropical with Flamingo Bingo
Downtown Latrobe will be pretty in pink Wednesday for Flamingo Bingo Shop Hop Night. Festivities will start at 4 p.m. in the Latrobe Parklet located at the corner of Main and Ligonier Streets. Emily Pasqualino, founder of Latrobe Shop Hop Nights, will be DJing, leaning on Caribbean and reggae music...
Gilpin/Leechburg Park to remain county property
Armstrong County officials apparently intend to retain ownership of Gilpin/Leechburg Park. In January, Armstrong County commissioners sent letters to Gilpin and Leechburg officials to gauge interest in both municipalities taking ownership of the park property. Gilpin officials voted to accept ownership, but the matter never made it to a vote...
Ex-Greensburg police chief waives hearing on theft of evidence charges
Former Greensburg police Chief Shawn Denning waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday, two days before he was scheduled to appear in district court for the proceeding on accusations that he took items from the department’s evidence room. Court records showed Denning, 42, of Delmont waived all five misdemeanor...
Unity man accused of taking $380,000 from relative
A Unity man is accused of stealing $380,000 from a relative for whom he shared power of attorney duties, according to state police. Christopher H. Treasure, 50, is free on $50,000 unsecured bail on a theft charge. He was arraigned last week. He became power of attorney for the Hempfield...
Truck fire affects traffic in Murrysville, Washington Township
Traffic was restricted Tuesday in the area of the Route 366 (Greensburg Road) and Route 380 interchange at the border of Murrysville and Washington Townships after a triaxle truck fire and fuel spill, according to a Westmoreland 911 dispatch supervisor. The triaxle apparently caught fire and a saddle tank ruptured...
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter’s fate remains undecided, deliberations to resume Wednesday
The jury considering the fate of the man who killed 11 people at a Squirrel Hill synagogue nearly five years ago will continue their deliberations on Wednesday. The panel of seven women and five men began discussing the penalty-phase verdict for Robert Bowers at 9 a.m. Tuesday and broke for...
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium announces death of red panda Kovu
The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium’s popular red panda Kovu has died, the park announced Monday via Facebook. “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of our male red panda, Kovu,” the post begins. The post said the 9-year-old Kovu began “displaying unusual behavior, including trouble walking” on Friday. He...
Fort Ligonier, West Overton join forces for whiskey tasting, sales honoring Arthur St. Clair
Visitors to Westmoreland County’s historic Fort Ligonier soon will be able to toast one of the county’s founding officials with a limited-edition whiskey issued in collaboration with West Overton Distilling. In celebration of the county’s 250th anniversary and in homage to early political and military leader Arthur St. Clair, the...
Morning Roundup: Police continue crime crackdown in the South Side
Here are some of the latest news items from this morning, Tuesday, Aug. 1: Police continue South Side patrols Pittsburgh police have released the numbers from a recent four-day weekend (July 27-30) patrol of East Carson Street. Increased officer presence and patrols resulted in two arrests, 15 traffic stops and...
The Stroller, Aug. 1, 2023: Events in the Alle-Kiski Valley
Publicize your non-profit’s community events, fundraisers and club meetings for free in The Stroller. Send information at least two weeks in advance to vndnews@triblive.com or The Stroller, 210 Wood St., Tarentum PA 15084. Please include a daytime telephone number. Help available to replace damaged license plates State Rep. Rob Mercuri...
Newly consolidated Tarentum/Brackenridge police force begins patrols
The Brackenridge Police Department has officially disbanded, but its officers will still be patrolling the borough. A newly minted Tarentum police force, which absorbed the three Brackenridge officers, begins Tuesday. Both councils voted Friday for shared police services for a five-year trial period. Schedules, pensions and administrative issues will be...
Independence Health hospital presidents focus on future plans
After reported losses of $62 million and hundreds of staff cuts, Independence Health System’s two new hospital presidents confirmed Monday that all five of the system’s hospitals — Westmoreland, Frick, Latrobe, Butler Memorial and Clarion — are part of the system’s future. “Our leadership team right now strongly believes that...
Hempfield Area parents, board members debate book policies ahead of upcoming vote
Occasional cheering and applause rose on Monday as Hempfield Area School District residents and parents reviewed book challenges and bans. A policy governing the process awaits a final vote by the school board in two weeks. During Monday’s school board meeting, several residents talked about the proposed policies, and some...
After 4-hour standoff, SWAT clears Homewood house, but suspect wasn’t inside
Pittsburgh police responded to a SWAT situation in the Pittsburgh’s Homewood North neighborhood Monday night. According to a social media post by Pittsburgh Public Safety, SWAT, paramedics and fire teams are in the 7300 block of Stranahan Street after receiving reports of a man believed to be barricaded inside a...
Shapiro signs executive order in Pittsburgh to create statewide workforce development program
Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order Monday in Pittsburgh’s Esplen neighborhood, creating a statewide workforce training program. The move comes after Pittsburgh was designated a “workforce development hub” by the White House, with the first lady visiting the region to sing the praises of the region’s workforce development efforts....
Allegheny County Councilwoman Liv Bennett not running for reelection
One of Allegheny County Council’s progressive members announced Monday that she will not be seeking reelection. The campaign of Allegheny County Councilwoman Liv Bennett, D-Northview Heights, tweeted that Bennett has dropped her independent run for reelection. Earlier this year, Bennett was running for Allegheny County Executive and her council seat...
SAG-AFTRA members rally in Pittsburgh as Hollywood strike drags on
Randy Kovitz is a middle-class actor. It’s a title he says he’s proud of, with a resume showing credits from film, television and commercials. His first role was in George Romero’s cult classic and genre-defining movie “Dawn of the Dead,” a cult classic, filmed at Monroeville Mall. He received $50...
North Huntingdon man sentenced to probation for 2020 armed robbery
A North Huntingdon man was ordered Monday to serve seven years on probation for his role in an armed robbery nearly three years ago in Mt. Pleasant Township. Elijah Ben Chaabane, 20, pleaded guilty earlier this year to robbery, conspiracy and weapons offense related to a Dec. 19, 2020 incident...
Thrasher ends tenure as Westmoreland commissioner
Gina Cerilli Thrasher’s title will remain the same. In her next role, Thrasher will serve as a commissioner on the state’s Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board when she starts her new job Tuesday. Her more than seven years as a member of Westmoreland County’s Board of Commissioners ended Monday. “It’s bittersweet...
